Robotic Prostatectomy in Bangkok

Robotic Prostatectomy in Bangkok

Da Vinci robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer treatment — delivering precision oncologic control with optimized preservation of continence and erectile function. Bangkok Hospital Headquarters’ Center of Excellence for Robotic Urological Surgery.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Soarawee Weerasopone, MD — Board-Certified Urologist · Robotic Surgery Fellowship, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan

What Is Robotic Radical Prostatectomy?

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) is the surgical removal of the entire prostate gland and surrounding tissues using the Da Vinci Surgical System. It is the most common surgical approach to prostate cancer worldwide and offers superior visualization, precision, and tissue handling compared to open or conventional laparoscopic surgery. For background on how this technology developed and where it is heading, see the rise of robotic urological surgery.

Advantages Over Open Surgery

• Smaller incisions — 5–6 keyhole ports instead of one large abdominal incision
• Reduced blood loss — typically less than 200 mL versus 500–1000 mL in open surgery
• Shorter hospital stay — typically 2–3 days versus 5–7 days
• Faster recovery — return to normal activity in 4–6 weeks
• Better nerve-sparing precision — improved preservation of erectile function
• Improved continence outcomes — with proper technique, urinary control returns earlier
• Magnified 3D visualization — 10x magnification of surgical field

Pre-Operative Workup

• Prostate Biopsy — confirms cancer diagnosis with Gleason score grading
• Multiparametric MRI — maps tumor location, extracapsular extension, lymph node status
• PSMA PET-CT — modern staging modality for higher-risk cancers
• Bone scan — when indicated for higher-grade disease
• Pre-operative continence and erectile function assessment — baseline for postoperative comparison
• Anesthesia review and cardiac clearance when indicated

Most patients reach this point after an elevated PSA result. What a high PSA actually means explains how false positives are excluded and how the decision to biopsy is made.

လုပ်ထုံးလုပ်နည်း

• ထုံဆေး General anesthesia
• အလုပ်လုပ်ချိန် 2–4 hours
• ခွဲစိတ်ကုသမှုနည်းလမ်း 5–6 small abdominal incisions for robotic ports
• Nerve-sparing: Selectively preserves the cavernous nerves responsible for erections, when oncologically appropriate
• Lymph node dissection: Performed when indicated based on risk classification
• ဆေးရုံတက်နေထိုင်ခြင်း 2–3 nights
• Catheter duration: 7–10 days
• အနားယူရန်။ 4–6 weeks
• Penile rehabilitation: Initiated early to optimize erectile recovery

မေးလေ့ရှိသော မေးခွန်းများ

Q1: Is robotic prostatectomy better than open surgery?

Cancer cure rates are equivalent between robotic and open techniques when performed by experienced surgeons. However, robotic prostatectomy offers significantly less blood loss, smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, faster recovery, and improved precision in nerve-sparing. It is now the preferred approach at most international referral centers.

Q2: Will I have urinary incontinence after surgery?

Temporary urinary incontinence is common immediately after catheter removal. Most patients (85–95%) regain continence within 3–12 months with proper pelvic floor rehabilitation. Permanent severe incontinence is uncommon (less than 5%) with modern surgical technique.

Q3: Will I have erectile dysfunction after surgery?

Erectile function recovery depends on three factors: surgical technique (nerve-sparing), age, and pre-operative erectile function. In men under 65 with bilateral nerve-sparing surgery, 60–80% recover satisfactory erections within 12–24 months. Early penile rehabilitation with PDE5 inhibitors, vacuum devices, or injections significantly improves outcomes.

Q4: What is the cancer cure rate?

For organ-confined prostate cancer, 10-year cancer-specific survival exceeds 95% following radical prostatectomy. For locally advanced disease, additional treatments (radiation, hormonal therapy) may be required. PSA monitoring after surgery detects recurrence early, allowing prompt intervention.

Q5: How does Bangkok compare to USA/Europe for robotic prostatectomy?

Bangkok offers the same Da Vinci surgical platform used in leading US and European centers, at internationally accredited hospitals (JCI). Total cost — including surgery, hospital stay, and accommodation — is typically 50–70% less than the USA. Surgeons trained at top international centers (Baylor, Chang Gung, etc.) provide care meeting global standards.

Q6: How long do I need to stay in Bangkok for surgery?

International patients typically spend 10–14 days in Bangkok: 2–3 days pre-operative workup, 2–3 days hospital stay, and 5–7 days post-operative recovery before catheter removal and clearance to fly home. Detailed follow-up instructions are coordinated with local urologists in the patient’s home country.

Q7: Can I have children after prostatectomy?

Natural conception is not possible after radical prostatectomy as the prostate and seminal vesicles are removed. Men planning future fatherhood should arrange sperm cryopreservation before surgery. Assisted reproductive technologies allow successful pregnancy from previously banked sperm.

Book Your Prostate Cancer Consultation

Comprehensive prostate cancer care from biopsy through surgery and long-term follow-up.
International patient services available.